PSC opens line with NSAs, coaches

While remaining firm on its 'house-cleaning' program, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday said it will not drop dialog as a policy to clear and explain its more stringent rules with the National Sports Associations and their coaches.

PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy yesterday said the agency will invite coaches from all 45 NSAs early next week to educate them on rules about attendance, allowance, training program and proper behavior, especially in the crucial stage of their preparation for the 17th Asian Games.

Iroy didn't specify, but hinted that the meeting aims to avoid a similar case that befell two athletics coaches, Joseph Sy and Roselyn Hamero, as well as those from petanque, fin swimming and sailing.

Sy and Hamero, two seasoned coaches in the Philippine Track and Field Association (Patafa), were scratched from the PSC's roster of national coaches due to absences and alleged forgery of their athlete's record to qualify to the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.

The PSC also suspended the allowance of all coaches and athletes of petanque and one coach from fin swimming due to reports of improper safekeeping of their athletes' ATM cards.

Coaches from sailing, on the other hand, were caught forging athletes' records. They have since apologized to the PSC, the agency.

"We will talk to coaches of these NSAs next week," said Iroy, who is also expected to chair the team that will closely monitor the training and activities of all NSAs. "We will discuss their training program, allowance, new format of the attendance sheet, and their overall behavior as members of the national team."

Iroy added that these matters need to be cleared with the coaches before being formally implemented.

"They should know the do's and don'ts of a national team member," he said. "That's why we need to discuss it with them. Para alam nila kung may nilalabag na silang PSC policy."